As 2025 draws to a close, Logistics Manager reflects on the past 12 months, looking at some of the biggest news stories in the logistics and supply chain sector.
Trump extends ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs pause until August
Under US President Donald Trump’s administration, 2025 has seen sweeping reforms of tariffs and trade.
In April, Trump announced the so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs on almost all imports into the USA. A 10% tariff on imports became effective from 5 April for most countries. However, new country-specific ‘reciprocal’ tariff rates were delayed until August.
In letters sent to individual countries Trump outlined the proposed tariff rates, including 30% for the European Union, 10% more than initially announced. In response, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, warned the move would “disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains.”
GXO’s acquisition of Wincanton cleared by CMA
In June, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that it has cleared the merger of GXO and Wincanton, subject to the sale of Wincanton’s dedicated grocery warehousing business to a CMA-approved buyer.
GXO acquired third-party logistics provider Wincanton in April 2024 for £762m. CMA had been investigating the GXO-Wincanton merger for potential issues surrounding loss of competition.
Mattel announces plans to cut toys produced in China
In February, Ynon Kreiz, chairman and CEO of toy manufacturer Mattel addressed the ongoing trade war between the US and China. He declared that “less than 40%” of its global toy production was expected to be from China in 2025, compared with an industry average of around 80%.
Mattel CFO Anthony DiSilvestro added: “By 2027, no single country is expected to represent more than about 25% of [Mattel’s] total global production or about half of that in terms of US sales.”
New Silvertown Tunnel yet to foster East London logistics boom
On 7 April, Transport for London (TfL) announced the opening of the 1.4km Silvertown Tunnel which links Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula.
However, early data from CoStar suggested that Newham and Greenwich’s logistics space vacancy rate has risen over the last 12 months to 9.9%, one of the highest in London.
DHL Group to invest £420m in Middle East operations by 2030
June saw DHL Group pledge to invest €500 million (c. £423 million) in the Middle East before the end of the decade, as part of expansion plans set out in its ‘Strategy 2030’ from 2024.
The investment focuses on both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – both dubbed “rapidly expanding Gulf markets” by DHL
USA ends ‘de minimis’ tariff exemption
From 29 August 2025, goods under the value of US$800, which were previously exempt from US import duties under the ‘de minimis’ exemption, were subject to full customs duties and fees.
Industry reaction was mostly negative with parcel company Evri describing the action as ‘inconvenient and disruptive for both retailers and end-consumers’.
Winners unveiled at 29th Supply Chain Excellence Awards
Leaders from across the logistics and supply chain community gathered in London on 6 November to celebrate achievement, innovation and excellence at the 29th Supply Chain Excellence Awards.
In all, 26 category winners were crowned from more than 220 entries, with three further projects highly commended by an independent panel of judges.
FedEx’s new automated sorting facility in Memphis
2025 saw the first full year of operation at FedEX’s new 1.3 million ft² automated sorting facility at its Memphis World Hub in the USA.
Officially inaugurated in October 2024, the four-storey hub is capable of sorting up to 56,000 packages per hour and is FedEx’s largest facility, employing some 13,000 team members.
AXA IM Alts acquires logistics centre in Bleiswijk, Netherlands
In September, AXA IM Alts acquired a 61,000m² (c.650,000ft²) logistics centre in Bleiswijk, Netherlands, marking one of its largest logistics acquisitions in the Netherlands.
The hub in the Randstad region comprises fully leased warehouse and office space. It was completed in December 2020.
Royal Mail reduces HGV trailer unloading time by 97%
A new automated solution introduced at Royal Mail’s Northwest Parcel Hub in Warrington, reportedly reduced the time required to unload HGV trailers from three-and-a-half hours to six minutes.
Royal Mail also planned to install a second set at its Daventry hub.
